Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-20

entered the room. The moment the
latter entered the young officer stood up
from the table and saluted. lie $1,000
with his hand at the side of his head IN
the attitude OF salute until the adyanc-
ing officer returned the salute and told
him politely to sit down. In this par
ticnlar case | AfterWard learned that the
officer superior in rank was former
uadesman in the town where the young
cr officer, the only son OF noble family,
was one Of It's social leaders The two
men in civil life would not know each
other socially. But in the army the
BRIDESMAIDS position commanded the
absolute respect and obedience of the
nobleman. 1 merely give this instance
As an illustration Of the absolute per
lection OF the military subordi-
nation in the German army. l noticed
thIs constantly as the officers came INTO
tae dininT-rOOm. Every officer who
came in saluted those present, and those
ssinieG either arose or bowed formally,
according to their relative ranks The
working OF this discipline, which was
shown in a hotel dining room, was OF
course common at all places OF pubic or
private meeting. When the officers pass
each other on the street, no matter If 1t
is twenty times q day, the same cere-
mony, IN more curt fashion, ls gone
through with The punishment for any
breach Of discipline Is swift and severe.
Yet IN spite of the rigor OF the discipline
and the tremendous work involved, all
of the officers md the men look comfort
able and coAtented.
did not see during my visit along the
frontier single case Of drunkenness
among tho German soldiers. Mostly the
only desert rs from the service come
from the ranks of the Alsace-Lorraine
people, vino have been impressed into a
service which they hat. Some OF these
stupid county boys think that they can
evade the long and powerful arm Of the
German military power, and make feeble
attempts t. escape across the frontier
But they ara always caught, end then
thoy are punished IN such way as to
mnke them abstain absolutely from
msluno @ seconS attempt
8ut in nothing IS the perfection OF
preparation shown more than in the sig
nails at ri. bit and in the sudden armng
and turning out Of the entire force along
the frontier upon the shortest possible
notice. The German soldier, when he
ret.rcs At night, never knows whether he
wall be called ont WITHIN the next ten
minutes " ut any time OF the night. At
O'Clock the signal will he given and
then an order ID called out Tor the men,
and instantly tine entire garrison
az Motz viii oe placed in line.
Men viii ba sent out at double
quick mp ard Gown the streets,
clyary VIII O. clsttering ont into
the darkness, tho ar;illcrymon Will
be whipped out 81 their posts with
the same sgi1ncss and rush 20 II the
enrmy wore actually 81 their gates. And
tlca vii. follow shower OF rocket.
Ia-se lead 20 hillside fires, ono hillside
Gre hqh,s uD another anl so the blaze
OF light runs 1iong down the long llao Of
the frontier. ca;nlg out by its signals the
uler at ci.t,n; posts. Nothing that could
happen now in tie WY Of denomination
upoa the port of Iu.nce could sind the
Germans unprepsfod They are united,
harmonious, and have Ierlort military
ann: lint the special textures Of their
wors On the frontier l Will notice IN fur
tlei letters.